Last winter, Indego, the Better Bike Share Partnership, and the City of Philadelphia provided five organizations with mini-grants of $1,000 to support their general operations and programming. The recipients were based throughout Indego’s service area and worked with people of all ages to provide free resources, host workshops, and more. Keep reading to learn more about these organizations, their amazing work in the community, and how they utilized the Indego grant funding.

Philadelphia Young Playwrights

The Indego mini-grant helped Philadelphia Young Playwrights run a free playwriting workshop and a staged reading for people of all ages at the Community Education Center. Based on the themes of one of the student plays, “The Fight to Stay” by Xavier Carrion, the workshop explored displacement of communities and gentrification, and participants wrote monologues from the various perspectives of people and things who are impacted by gentrification. Around 1,700 students across Philadelphia benefit from their programs each year, learning to write plays and share their voices.

The Dandelion Project

The Dandelion Project used the Indego mini-grant to host a community open house in South Philadelphia, where children aged 5-14 and their families enjoyed crafts, games, and connecting with neighbors. The event helped to deepen neighborhood connections, and several families have since followed up to get involved in The Dandelion Project’s free and sliding-scale opportunities for youth programming.

Fruits of the Family Table

The Indego mini-grant helped Fruits of the Family Table run the Repurposed Project, a violence prevention program for young adults ages 18–24 in West Philadelphia. The grant paid for crafting and program supplies and helped set up a welcoming space for participants. Through woodworking projects, participants learned new job skills, received therapy and mentorship, and connected with supportive adults. Each participant received supportive funds, a SEPTA pass, and meals during the 10-day program. Participants shared that the program made them feel empowered and gave them tools to make positive choices in their lives.

Odyssey of Eden Doula

Odyssey of Eden Doula Services used the Indego mini-grant to host a community event for families, giving out clothes, books, diapers, and more to infants, toddlers, and youth at the Walnut Street West Library. Many families attended and received resources, learned how to do CPR from a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, and also learned about doula supportive services in their community.

Indonesian Lantern Media

Indonesian Lantern Media used the grant to hold a Wayang-making workshop, teaching 20 middle and high school students about Indonesian shadow puppetry. The workshop gave students a chance to be creative and learn about their cultural heritage. Participants made their own puppets using paper, wood, and paint, and learned the stories behind the art. Indonesian Lantern Media will also co-host an event with Indego during our programming season to bring more bike share resources to their community.

The City of Philadelphia, Indego, and the Better Bike Share Partnership would like to thank these organizations for their work to serve and engage the people of Philadelphia. The Indego mini-grant program runs twice a year, with applications opening in the spring and fall. Click below to learn more and apply for the next round of funding.